Playground Turf Buyer’s Guide

Maybe you’ve been considering playground turf for awhile now, but weren’t sure how it compares to other playground flooring options. Maybe you want nothing but green grass in your backyard for your kids. Whatever your reasons, we’ve got the info you need to choose the artificial grass that fits your needs.

As a kid, I was all about the playground. My parents had a simple swingset for me and my sister, but I always had a lot of fun on it. We’d play car wash by going down the slide, and we would swing so high the swingset would come off the ground and almost become airborne.

It was pretty awesome.

Today, I don’t have a swingset, but maybe your kiddos do. If they’re like me and my sister, they probably try to stand on top of the set or manage to hang upside down until their faces go red.

If they’re also like me and my sister, they probably fall off a lot. It’s inevitable, really.

Enter: Playground Turf.

Playground turf is a lot like landscape turf, but if you add a fall-height rated pad underneath, it becomes the safest place to play.

If you’re into outdoor fun and safety, I can teach you everything you need to know about playground turf. Criss-cross-applesauce your legs, sit back and listen up.

It’s gonna be fun. Pinky-swear.

What is Playground Turf?

Let’s start with the basics:

What is artificial grass?

What is playground turf?

Which artificial grass do I need?

These questions are probably buzzing through your mind if you’re just starting your journey into playground turf. Luckily we have a neat video to help answer some of your questions.

Playground Turf Explained

Now that you know the basics, let’s take a moment to look at playground turf specifically.

Most fake grass for playgrounds is going to look like real grass blades. Manufacturers are working hard to make artificial grass look and feel more realistic than ever before.

Playground turf grass often mimics real grasses that are found throughout the United States. For example, artificial grass that looks like bermuda grass is popular on the West Coast.

Playground turf is super UV stable and also heat and frost resistant. It typically has a higher face weight* and more durable fibers than other types of turf. Both of these factors make playground turf extremely durable for the playground.

Playground turf is usually made from polyethylene or polypropylene. This fiber can hold a lot of wear and tear compared to other types of outdoor playground flooring.

*The face weight is the amount of material used per square yard in your artificial grass.

Playground Turf Padding

Unfortunately, the turf on its own will not give you a proper fall-height rating to keep your kids safe. To keep kids safe, you’ll also need a padding under the turf. Fall height is the highest point a child can safely stand on. If your playground flooring surface is fall-height rated for 7′, that means the child can fall from 7′ without serious injury.

Playground turf has different fall-height safety ratings, depending on thickness and underlayment. The thickness is measured by adding the thickness of your lawn pad or play pad with the thickness of your playground turf.

It is important to note: These are the standard ratings, but playground flooring safety ratings vary by product, Make sure to check out the specs on the specific product you are looking at to ensure it will be safe.

2.1-3.1” → 5′ fall-height rating, great for most residential playgrounds

Pros of Playground Turf

We’re at the point in the post where you probably want to see the breakdown of why you should choose playground turf over other playground flooring.

To be honest, playground turf has a lot of perks. Let’s take a look.

Bug-be-gone: You’ve got artificial grass covering your lawn. That means bugs will be a thing of the past. Everybody wants fewer creepy-crawlies when enjoying their yard.

Maintenance-free: One of the best things about artificial grass is that you don’t have to mow or water it. The heat-of-the-day labor is gone for good.

Safety: With play padding underneath, your playground turf doubles as a safety zone for your kiddos.

Eco-friendly: Artificial grass is made of recycled materials and has a measurable, positive impact on the environment.

Cons of Playground Turf

Like all things you’ll buy, there will be a downside. Playground turf is no different.

Let’s take a look at the downside real quick.

Expense: Buying and installing artificial grass can get expensive. You need accessories and time to get the perfect lawn. We like to think it’s worth it though. You’ll find in the long term, it’s actually cheaper!

Heat: When the heat rises, so does the temperature of your artificial turf grass. There are fills to help keep the temperature down, but artificial grass is hotter to the touch than real grass.

Playground Turf Products

Now that you’re ready to choose your playground turf, let me gather the best info on our products to make the process easy. Here we go!

Playsafe Turf Rolls

These turf rolls are great for residential playgrounds. They have a face weight and thickness perfect for landscaping. With a long warranty, your playground will be around for a long time.

Playsafe Premium Turf Rolls

A step above our Playground Turf Rolls, these turf rolls have a higher face weight and a higher thickness for more durability. More durability equals more time playing on the jungle gym. Can’t beat that.

Austin Elite Turf Rolls

Elite is in the title for a reason - these turf rolls are the elite product. They have a great face weight and thickness, so your lawn can take a beating. Even better, it still has a long warranty for your peace of mind.

Pet Turf Rolls

Don’t let the name fool you, these turf rolls are for more than just pets (though they’re great for them too!). Pet turf rolls are super soft and also have a great face weight for durability. Although they aren’t the thickest around, they do have a great warranty.

Free Time Turf Rolls

These are pretty cool because they work both indoors and outdoors. This turf is multi-use, being great for playgrounds, pets, working out - it’s your choice! Since they’re indoor/outdoor, they have a lower face weight and thickness than the plush artificial grass you’re used to.

Polyboard: If you want to get landscaping after your artificial grass is laid, polyboard is an alternative to natural wood edging.

Lawn pads: For some extra cushion under your feet, lay down a lawn pad. If you have some kiddos running around, these are fall height rated for safety.

Definitely look twice at your manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you have all the tools you need to make your landscape look amazing.

If you’re like me and need some visual learning, we have a great video on how to install artificial grass.

Conclusion

Your kids’ playground will always be their oasis. They’ll climb, tumble and fall, so to make it more stress-free for you, playground turf is the way to go. They’ll stay safe during their activities, while you sit back and relax.